62-yr-old vendor refuses free meal to goon, pays with life

A 62-year-old roadside food vendor was stabbed to death in public view in northwest Delhi’s Sultanpuri on Saturday, allegedly for taking on a local goon who had demanded a free meal.

The incident follows the brazen daylight killing of two siblings over the trivial issue of ‘almost hitting’ a local criminal’s luxury sedan in the same area a day earlier.

Kashi Ram was stabbed at least five times a little after 10am. He died at the spot where he had been selling ‘chhole bature’ for decades.

According to the police, the accused is a local criminal identified as Gurmeet who stays in the same neighbourhood. Gurmeet, who was previously in involved in criminal cases, was later arrested.

“Gurmeet, 28, was apparently one of the first customers to reach Kashi Ram’s shop around 10 am and asked him to serve him a plate of chhole bature,” said a police official quoting eyewitnesses.

“Gurmeet apparently owed Kashi Ram money for several other meals served earlier. Kashi Ram asked Gurmeet to clear his dues first before being served another meal,” the official added.A verbal spat followed. Minutes later, the accused whipped out a knife and attacked Kashi Ram in the middle of the bustling market.Police said bystanders and market goers saw Gurmeet stab Kashi Ram at least five times before the latter collapsed at the spot.

As Gurmeet fled, the police were informed and rushed Kashi Ram to the Maharishi Valmiki hospital where doctors declared him dead. “Gurmeet couldn’t make it very far and we arrested him from his house later in the day,” another police official said.